Patients get high-tech system

Dialysis patient Justin Weir.

A local dialysis patient is amongst patients in the Southern Trust who now have access to a range of entertainment at their bedsides in Daisy Hill Hospital.

Thirty patient entertainment systems have been installed in the Renal Unit – one for each bed. The touch screen systems include access to TV, radio and internet.

Justin Weir from Donaghcloney attends Daisy Hill for dialysis three days a week for over four hours each time.

He said: “I spend quite a lot of time having dialysis. I usually use this time to rest, read or watch the ward TV. The new terminals give me many more ways to spend my time now.

“We have a wider range of TV channels to choose from and our own headphones so we can watch what we like or listen to the radio. We can also play games or surf the web. I am currently doing a Theology Degree, so I can spend my time much more productively by checking emails or doing work online.

“The system also gives us access to Renal View, which allows dialysis patients to see their own medical history and monitor their condition.”

Consultant Nephrologist, Dr John Harty from the Renal Unit said: “This really is a truly multi-purpose device. It has the obvious benefit of occupying patients during their stay, but as well as improving the patient experience, it is helping us to improve safety, quality and speed of care. Medical staff can use the screens to log on to our clinical system at the bedside, allowing us to view, record, or update the patient’s notes in real time, for example alerting Pharmacy to a change needed in medication.”